Episode 667: Teenaged Dream

"Are you selling cookies or something?" Jesse’s mom asked. She was a small woman, thin, and younger than the mom of a teenager usually was. Despite her fiery red hair, her slight frame and girlish face made her appear vulnerable to someone gearing up to drop a bomb on the woman.

Caroline wished she could have delivered the news over the phone, but you couldn’t say something potentially scary over the phone, so she was stuck. "Is your husband home?"

"He is, but really, if you’re here peddling cookies or candy or something like that for your school, I can’t help you out," Jesse’s mom continued. "My littlest guy is still at the table refusing to eat his veggies. It’s supposed to mean I’m a good mom if I force him to do that sort of thing, but I’m not always that good," she smiled exactly like Jesse, "and if there are cookies around I’m bound to give in to his begging."

"I’m actually not selling anything." Caroline swallowed hard and wrung her hands. "I’m here to talk to you and your husband."

"Are you a neighbor? You look like the kind of girl who studies. This is about Nate drumming on everything in sight lately, right? The noise carried and it’s messing with your concentration. Well, don’t worry, he’s annoyed the daylights out of everyone here, too, ten minutes ago I told him if he doesn’t give it a rest he’ll only eat vegetables for the rest of his life, so I’m pretty sure that’s taken care of-"

"I’m actually not a neighbor either. I’m Caroline." Caroline was disappointed to see the lack of recognition on the woman’s face, to realize Jesse hadn’t mentioned her to his mom, but it just showed that she shouldn’t have made too much of that kiss, she shouldn’t let it mess with her judgment.

"Hey, Mom, I-" Jesse’s voice dropped as he walked into the room and saw her. "Caroline."

"You know her." His mom said. "Please tell me you haven’t done something wrong, Jess. I’ve really liked my delusions that you’re a much better kid than I was. Why does Caroline need to talk to us?"

"I-" Jesse stepped right up to Caroline, and pleaded with his eyes. "She wanted to meet you because she’s my girlfriend." He leaned in and he kissed her. Again.

Caroline knew he was trying to manipulate her. To her shame, she also knew the manipulation was working.

Episode 668: Garden Party